WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Fans who are young and young at heart should find the new Ross-Ade Stadium South End Zone Patio to be a sensational addition to their Purdue football game-day experience.

Purdue Athletics Department officials today announced plans for the new space, which is being created after the bleachers were removed last month.

The patio will be available to football season-ticket holders and Purdue students who have purchased the VIP Card. It will open one and a half hours before kickoff and close at the end of the game.

Anchored by a 3,200-square-foot high-peak tent, the space will also feature several pergolas and an array of patio-style furniture, including tables with umbrellas. Fans will be able to purchase typical tailgate food and beverage, including beer and wine. Six 46-inch televisions will be mounted throughout.

The Boilermaker Special, Purdue's official mascot, will park front and center of the 16,000-square foot area. The space will be gated, with four entrances - two on the east side and two on the west - with attractive landscaping, flags and banners that pay tribute to the Boilermakers' Cradle of Quarterbacks and Den of Defensive Ends traditions.

Season-ticket and VIP Card holders will receive an access card that will permit entry to the area. Fans can enter via Gate A and Gate N from outside the stadium or from the bottom of sections 101 and 129 from inside the stadium. For a complete explanation of entry and access procedures, click here.

Space is limited to 1,500 fans at a time.

The South End Zone Patio is a temporary addition to Ross-Ade while athletics department officials continue to plan for a major renovation to the area in the coming years.

The decision was made to remove the bleachers, which accounted for approximately 6,100 seats, in order to avoid necessary maintenance to the bleachers. The lower bleachers, which seat approximately 1,000 fans, remain.